Afghan government, Taliban battle for control over northeastern Afghan district

The Taliban, reportedly aided by al Qaeda and allied Pakistani groups, attacked the Doad district in Nuristan, briefly taking control of the district and effectively surrounding the provincial capital. Ten Taliban fighters and three policemen have been reported killed in the fighting. From BBC:

“We had intelligence reports that close to 500 Arabs, Chechen, Pakistani and Afghan fighters wanted to attack and take the districts,” Mr Badar [the governor of Nuristan] told the BBC.

“The fighting is still going on. Our weapons are no match to those of the insurgents. We have no hand grenades, mortars or heavy machine guns.

“We have asked for help from the defence ministry but they have not responded to us.”

The insurgents control key routes into the provincial capital, Parun, allowing them to impose a blockade on the city.

Badar later said government forces have retaken Doad district, according to TOLONews.

The Taliban overran the district of Waygal at the end of March, and are also in control of the Kamdesh district. The status of Barg-e-Matal district is unclear; it changes hands between the government and the Taliban frequently. This statement on the worsening security situation in the northeast from an Afghan official should give ISAF and the Afghan government pause:

“If you don’t come and deal with this mess. You will be dealing with another Waziristan and al-Qaeda’s next home inside Afghanistan,” one official told the BBC.

The fighting in Doad is likely being led by Dost Mohammed, the Taliban’s shadow governor of Nuristan province, and Qari Zia Rahman, al Qaeda’s top commander in Nuristan and Kunar provinces, who is also a Taliban leader. Rahman leads forces across the border in the Pakistani tribal agency of Mohmand and Bajaur as well.

For more information on Nuristan and Kunar provinces, see LWJ report, Northeastern Afghan district falls after Taliban assault.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.

Tags: ,

1 Comment

  • jean says:

    I think that Doad is the western part of Nuristan. In addition, COF troops may no longer have a foothold in Nuristan. The PRT base Galagush was in the western part of the province, but it may have been closed during the retrograde operations early this year. Laghman is slated for TOA this year. This province is key to re supplying the western part of Nuristan.

Iraq

Islamic state

Syria

Aqap

Al shabaab

Boko Haram

Isis